Immediately following a car accident, you will likely feel shocked and anxious, wondering what to do next. Aside from checking if you and any passengers in the vehicle are injured and calling emergency services, one of the most important things you should do after an accident is obtain the police report.
Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford is a team of experienced car accident injury attorneys servicing clients throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. If you choose to file a personal injury claim, obtaining the police report will be crucial in building your claim. While the police report is vital to your personal injury claim, Pennsylvania insurance adjusters will also check the report as they work to determine how much may be owed to you in compensation.
3 Details Pennsylvania Insurance Adjusters Check in a Police Report
There are an average of six million car accidents in the United States each year. If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident, you may be looking to pursue compensation for any damages you may have suffered following the accident. Some examples of damages you may have incurred following a car accident may include medical expenses, lost wages, or lost earning potential.
Just as you will likely seek the help of a car accident injury attorney to build your injury claim, the insurance adjusters of the at-fault driver will also be working on trying to award you the lowest compensation they can. As they learn the details of the case, they will look for these three specific details when checking the police report.
Who Was Issued a Citation in a Pennsylvania Car Accident?
After a car accident, the police who respond to the scene may issue a citation to one of the drivers. Who that citation is issued to may be of interest to Pennsylvania insurance adjusters. If you were issued a citation after the car accident, insurance adjusters may use it against you. Some examples of citations that insurance adjusters may try to use against you are as follows:
- Expired license
- Suspended license
- Expired registration
While each of these are non-moving violations and have nothing to do with the crash itself, an insurance adjuster may use this against you when trying to give you lower compensation for damages.
What the Pennsylvania Officer Wrote on the Last Page of the Police Report
When the insurance adjuster assigned to your case skims through the police report, the last page will be the page they take the most time with. The last page of the police report is where the investigating officer will write a description of what happened. While most officers do a great job recording both drivers’ versions of events, that is not always the case. Sometimes, an officer will mix up car one and car two, causing a major issue for you when determining liability for your injury claim. This simple mix-up will give insurance adjusters grounds to delay payment of any damages. When an insurance adjuster delays payments, you will end up having to pay for medical costs and any other damages.
Did You Complain of Any Pain at the Scene of the Car Accident?
If you were injured at the car accident scene, it is crucial you do not try to sugarcoat things and “tough it out.” If you are experiencing any pain after a crash, that should be communicated to the investigating officer who is filing the accident report. Insurance adjusters will look for this information in the report. If the police officer states that there was “no evidence of injury,” your personal injury claim could be affected.
Pennsylvania Car Accident Injury Attorneys Are Here to Help You
If you have been a victim of a car accident in Southeastern Pennsylvania, you may want to file a personal injury claim to help cover the costs of any damages incurred. Communicating with insurance adjusters can be stressful, but the experienced attorneys at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg, and Gifford may be able to help you navigate through the claims process. For over 65 years, our experienced car accident injury attorneys have provided our clients with the aggressive representation needed to go up against the big insurance providers. Proudly serving clients in Southeastern Pennsylvania, we will provide the top-of-the-line care you deserve. For a free consultation, contact us here or call (215) 822-7575.
